Strip guiding and moistening means particularly adapted for use with strip serving mechanism



May 3, 1932.

T. R. GAUTIER ET AL 1,856,623

STRIP GUIDING AND MOISTENING MEANS PARTICULARLY 'ADAPTED FOR USE WITH STRIP SERVING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 15, 1929 lnveuiov's: Trevov'fl. fiaieliei", Ha roZdEZNickois y flow 3M2 MIM Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TREVOR R. GAUTIER AND HAROLD E. NICHOLS. OF NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AS-

SIG-NORS TO NASHUA GUMMED 85 COATED PAPER COMPANY, OF NASHUA, NEW

HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS STRIP GUIDING AND MOISTENING MEANS PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE WITH STRIP SERVING MECHANISM Application filed August 13, 1929.

. This invention relates to the art of strip serving; more particularly, it pertains to mechanism forserving strips of adhesive tape and the like for package sealing, binding and allied purposes, having as one object to provide improved strip feeding, severing and moistening means, including means for mois- 'tening both surfaces of the strip. This application, as to all common subject matter, is 'a continuation of our copending application, Serial No. 258,875, filed March 3, 1928, now Patent No. 1,732,636, dated Oct. 22, 1929.

In the drawings illustrating one embod1- ment of the invention, by way of example,

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the upper forward portion of strip serving mechanism, such as that of said copending application;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation upon an enlarged scale of strip guiding and moistening means embodying the invention and particularly adapted for co-action with tape feeding and serving mechanism such, for example, as that of Fig. 1, wherein said means is shown in its cooperative relation to said mechanism;

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views, on the scale of Fig. 1, of the device of Fig. 2, Fig. 3 showing the complete device and Fig. 4 showing the same with its absorbent element removed;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 55 of Fig. 4:;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the absorbent element of Figs. 1, 2 and 8; and

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan of the strip depressor of Figs. 1 to 5.

The strip feed assisting, guiding and moistening means of our invention may be employed with any suitable strip-serving. mecha nism. Referring to Fig. 1, we have shown it in operative association with a strip server such as that of our co-pending application above identified with which it peculiarly cooperates, and wherein the moistening means illustratedincludes a reservoir or tank 5 from which projects an inverted brush moistener 6; while a brush is herein illustrated, other forms of moisture conveying means may be employed. The tape T is advanced from a suitable supply, not shown, or may be manually moved across the moistening means. As

Serial No. 385,533.

shown, the tape is fed across a table 7 and beneath a guide roll 8 to and past the severing and the moistening means, herein by action of the upper and lower feed rolls 9 and 10, the latter driven in any suitable manner, as by the gear 11 and its operating means, not shown. In advance of the feed rolls, to the left thereof in Fig. 1, the strip or tape passes between the severing blades, including the fixed blade 12 and the movable or swivelled blade 13, and thence across the moistener 6, for delivery in wetted condition. The operative relation of the feed rolls is controlled, in the serving mechanism shown by way of example, by the lever 14.

Between the upper feed roll 9 and the fixed blade 12 the strip is guided and held down in its passage to the severing blades by a removable guide or depressor, or weighted member or guide member 18. This depressor is formed for reception at the position indicated, and to cooperate with the upper feed roll, by which it tends to be held up against the rear face of the fixed blade 12. This member 18 preferably has a somewhat convexed lower face, as indicated at 18, and in this and other respects may be generally similar to the device disclosed and claimed broadly in the patent to T. R. Gautier 1,568,506, dated January 5, 1926. Said member 18 herein has a transversely grooved under face providing the latter with a plurality of alternating raised portions or ribs 18 and depressed portions or grooves 18 as best seen in Fig. 7. This overcomes any tendency of the strip to adhere to the under face of the member.

Forwardly of the severing means, the strip is guided in proper moistening relation up to and across the under-surface moistener, herein the brush 6, by means of apressure element, presser, plate or platen, indicated as a whole by the numeral 20, Fig. 1 and also Fig. 2. This pressure element rests freely upon the strip T as it approaches and crosses the moistener, and insures proper moistening contact of the under surface of the strip with the moistener.

The pressure element or platen 20, as illustrated, comprises a frame or body including the side pieces 21, 21, a front cross-piece or nose 22, and a rear cross-member 23, all desirably formed integrally as a single casting, preferably of a relatively light material such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The rear portion ofthe nose 22'is'bevelled off, be tween the side pieces 21, 2-1 and somewhat depressed, as .best seen in Fig. 5, to provide a shoulder 24. The rear cross member23 is forwardly and downwardly 5 inclined at its upper face, as also best seen in Fig. 5, and toward its rear is cut away adjacent the side pieces 21, 21 leaving a centrally disposed block 25, Figs. 3 and 4, from which'aifingei' 26 projects rearwardly.

The strip depressor '18 is herein pivotally connectedto the end portion of thisifingenas at ,fsaid, depressor being formed with a pair of upstanding. earsf28, 28 between which the {finger .26 is received. As seenin Fig. .1 this finger 26,111 the operative position of the parts extendsrea-rwardly above and across (the fiiied blade .12, which serves. as. a fulcrum about which the platen 20 may pivot vertically, while the finger constitutes a down- 1 wardly open bearing connection between the fixed blade and the platen, enabling the .latterreadily tolbe removed bodily when desired, as foriinspection, cleaning or the like, as disclosed and claimed inthe copendingapplication of TR. Gautier, SerialN 0-. 135,062, filed September13, 1926, PatentTNo. 1,732,687, dated Oct. 22,1929. In some instances the platen20 ancllthe depressor'18; maylbe [disconnected,'butz their connection as shown:is deisirable, iinsuring properpositioningotthe partsiand making for convenience 1n the assembling oi removal thereof,..inasinuch as the platen andrthe depressor, :as shown, maybe bodily removed from or placed in themechanisin o'tFig. .1 together, as one .unit.

:Theplaten 20' in the .form illustrated is. particularly. adapted for use inmoistening both thellowerandthe.upper faces of a-strip or tape which'is gumn'ied on both-sides. Such double. niois'teninglis frequently desirable, as inconnection with .bindingfloose sheets, in vcertain pack-aging operations, vor in securing together anyitwo overlapped sheets or-members. Accordinglythe platen carries an upper-surface moistener30, of any suitable absorbent material, such as felt. V

As'illustrated this upperlnioistener 30has the general'forni of a pad, see'Fig. '6', of a width to'fit' between the side pieces21, 21 of the platen; It ispreferablysomewhat con- VQXOD its under face, see also Figs. 1 and 2, to facilitate thepassage ofthe strip in proper moistening relation with and between the brush or lower. moistener' 6 and the upper" moistenerfiO, and to insure properdeliveryof the stripinwetted condition.

'As best seen in'Fig. 6, the upper moistener or pad 30 is formed at its upper face with a transverse step or shoulder 31 adapted to. abut the sho ilder2e: of the platen, to positionth pad thereon. Near the rear edge of the pad is formed an aperture 32, in alignment with a threaded recess 33 in the block 25 of the platen, whereby the pad .inay .be removably secured inproper position on tliejplaten, as by the screw 34 and washer 35.

It Wlll be understood that, except during "actual strip serving operations, the {platen rests-with its moistener orpad 30 dii=ectly in A contact with i the 3 lower moistener or'brush 6 which latter transfers moisture to the upper nioi'stener or pad from the reservoir, "thus keeping theipad always in condition to moisten the upper surfaceof a strip as fed. At intervals, "for example, at the times when the reservoir 5 isto be refilled, the upper moistener may be given an additional separatewetting, if TElQSlIB Cl, .or considered necessary.

Normally, .so long .as the reservoir contains liquid, the: upper 1110181381162 .isIkept' improper noistening conditionxthrongh itscontact with thelowermoistenerfi. I

lVhen itlis not desired tomoistenzthezupper .iiace ofthestrip, .the'pad130 .mayibe removed and the platen 20 ,permitted to 'i'unc- Vance ofrthe latter, Itheconibination .thei'cwith of a removable. guide member adapted to restuponthe strip torthesrear ofthesevering. device, a. non-.riotarypnsser to jrest upon the strip as it icrosses ,,the moistener, :an d

nieansexteiidingacross the severing device and operatively pivotally connecting .the presser and sai'dguide-inember.

2. Strip depressingiandguiding.meansifor usein .a strip serving.machinefha-vinga moistening element, said means comprising a presser' having at its under portion a formaltionifor engagement with the upper .face of the strip, in opposition to themoisteningelement,:.a guide adapted to. rest upon the strip rearwardly of the moistening.elemen and a rearward extension .on the presser ,pivotally connected to .saidguide. f

,3. In a strip servingumachine, inconibination "with. a .ldev'iCe ffor .moistening a strip passed across .it, a pressure ,plate having .a portion overlying the'inoistening device, a member :at therear. of theinoistening device extending transverselyotand above the; path .ofthe strip, means at .the .rear portioii'iof the pressure :platehaving overlying free engage.- ment with said. transversememben'and a strip guiding depressor tothe rear of said transverse :member and connected .to the portion of the pressenplatewhich overlies .saidtransverse member;

4. In a strip serving machine, in combination, a liquid reservoir, a moistener projectmg therefrom, means to pass a strip to and across said moistener, a movable, gravity operated platen above the path of the strip and in opposition to said moisture, to rest on the strip as it crosses the latter, and moistener for the upper face of the strip, carried by said platen.

5. In a strip serving machine, in combination, a liquid reservoir, a moistener projecting therefrom, means to pass a strip to and across said moistener, a movable platen above the path of the strip and in opposition to said moistener, to rest by gravity on the strip as it crosses the latter, and an absorbent member on the platen, in position to rest upon and receive moisture from said moistener during the absence of a strip, and to moisten the upper face of a strip passed between said member and underlying moistener.

6. In a strip serving machine, in combination, a reservoir, a brush moistener projecting upwardly therefrom in position to moisten the under face of a strip passed across it, and means cooperating with and receiving moisture from said brush moistener to moisten the upper face of such strip.

7. In a strip serving machine having a strip severing device and amoistener in advance of the latter, the combination therewith of a removable guide member adapted to rest upon the strip to the rear of the severing device, a presser to rest upon the strip as it crosses the moistener, means extending across the severing device and connecting the presser and said guide-member, and means on said presser member for moistening the upper surface of the strip.

8. Strip depressing and guiding means for use in a strip serving machine having a moistening element, said means comprising a presser having at its under portion a formation for engagement with the upper face of the strip, in opposition to the moistening element, a guide adapted to rest upon the strip rearwardly of the moistening element, a rearward extension of the presser, connected to said guide, and means on said presser for moistening the upper surface of the strip.

9. In a strip severing machine having a moistener up to and across Which the strip is fed, strip depressing and guiding means comprising a presser adapted to engage the upper face of the strip as it crosses the moistener, a separately formed guide member adapted to rest upon the strip to the rear of the moistener, means uniting the presser and said guide member, and means on said presser member for moistening the upper surface of the strip.

10. In a strip serving machine, in combination with a device for moistening a strip passed across it, a pressure plate having a portion overlying the moistening device, a

member at the rear of the moistening device extending transversely of and above the path of the strip, means at the rear portion of the pressure plate engageable with said transverse member in a manner permitting vertical pivotal movement of the pressure plate and also permitting the latter to be bodily lifted for removal, a strip guiding depressor to the rear of said transverse member and connected to the pressure plate for bodily removal therewith, and means on said pressure plate for moistening the upper surface of the strip.

11. Moistening means for strip material comprising a reservoir, a lower moistener projecting therefrom, and an absorbent upper moistener movably supported and normally resting freely on said lower moistener to receive moisture therefrom, whereby a strip passed between said moisteners is wetted upon both faces.

12. Moistening means for strip material comprising a reservoir, a lower moistener projecting therefrom, and an upper moistener normally resting by gravity upon and receiving its moisture from said lower moistener, said moisteners together adapted to moisten both faces of a strip passed between them.

13. In a strip serving machine, in combination, moistening means comprising a reservoir, a lower moistener projecting therefrom, an absorbent upper moistener adapted to rest freely on said lower moistener, means to feed a strip up to and between said moisteners for wetting thereby upon both its faces, and strip severing means to the rear of and operatively associated with said moistening means.

14:. In a strip severing machine having a moistener up to and across which the strip is fed, strip depressing and guiding means comprising a presser adapted to engage the upper face of the strip as it crosses the moistener, a separately formed guide member adapted to rest upon the strip to the rear of the moistener, and means uniting the presser and said guide member, said guide member having suction or adhesion preventing formations upon its under face.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

TREVOR R. GAUTIER. HAROLD E. NICHOLS. 

